AUGUSTA – The ABAC Stallion tennis team suffered its second setback to start the season, falling on the road to Augusta University Tuesday, 6-1.
 
Augusta is an NCAA Division II program that plays in the Peach Belt Conference. They flexed that muscle against the Stallions, who are in their first year of four-year play. Freshman Thibaut Blanchart provided the only point at number three singles, winning 6-3, 6-4 against Humberto Pinto.
 
Maximilian Marquard was blanked at the number one spot while Ryan Neveu lost 3-6, 1-6 at number two. The Jaguars swept the final three seeds as Matthew Rodgers lost 0-6, 0-6 at number four, while Sean Canavet and Artur Lovison both lost 1-6, 0-6 at the number five and six seeds, respectively.
 
The Stallions' luck was no better in doubles where Augusta swept the matches to earn the doubles point. Blancart/Rodgers lost 2-6 at number one, Marquard/Neveu lost 4-6 at number two and Milan Volbert and Benjamin Ranby-Al lost 4-6 at number three.
 
ABAC also dropped their season opener last week against Coastal Georgia, 6-1. Ranby-Al picked up the lone Stallions win at number five singles, defeating Caspar Grylls 6-2, 6-0. Luka Blache lost 2-6, 2-6 at number one while Marquard fell 4-6, 7-5, 1-6 at number two. Neveu lost in the number three match 6-7, 4-6 and Blanchart lost at number four 3-6, 6-3, 0-6. Rodgers dropped the number six match 0-6, 6-1, 4-6.
 
In doubles, Canavet/Marquard and Ranby-Al/Rodgers lost their matches, which gave Augusta the doubles point before the third matches was completed.
 
The Stallions will get this weekend off before facing Belmont Abbey in Columbus on Saturday, March 1.